Big gloves to fill for part-timer

When your shining moment of international wicketkeeping is three catches against World Cup minnows the Netherlands, it's a tough ask replacing world cricket's most destructive keeper-batsman.

But that's the scenario Jimmy Maher is set to tackle in his head-on style today when Australia rest Adam Gilchrist from the tri-series match against New Zealand in Guwahati.

Maher has kept just three times for Australia but has recently worked diligently with Gilchrist and Australian assistant coach Tim Nielsen - a former South Australian stumper - on his first tour of India.

He has tried to follow just the two principles: to remain patient on low, slow wickets and to heed the advice of his contemporaries, who have urged him not to over-burden himself with intricacies.

"Their advice all the time is don't get too technical and, as a part-timer - an extra, extra part-timer - it's just a matter of catching them," Maher said. "It doesn't matter how or how ugly it looks, because I'm never going to look like Ian Healy or Gilly or Wade Seccombe or Darren Berry, or any of those.

"I suppose it's like if you said to me I've got to get an ugly hundred every time - I'd take it. I never have been or will be a full-time keeper."

Maher conceded the role's physical toll and the immense concentration required made it one of the more thankless in the game.

"People don't fully understand how good Adam Gilchrist is," he said. "I've only done it a few times where I've kept first and then batted - it ain't easy.

"For him to do it as well as he does it with the gloves and then come out and score 80 or 100 off less than a run a ball is quite remarkable."

The most recent of Maher's 25 limited-overs matches for Australia was in the West Indies earlier this year, but for fellow Queenslander Michael Kasprowicz the wait has been much longer.

The 31-year-old paceman played in the 2001 Test series in India, but has not played a one-day international for five years.

But after overcoming a muscle strain he is expected to replace Brad Williams, who will be rested, when Australia finalise their side.